Justice News

Charleston Man Charged with Embezzling from Former Employer

Springfield, Ill. – A Charleston, Ill., man, James Michael Hill, 39, has been charged by indictment with embezzling from his former employer, a Mattoon restaurant. The indictment, returned Sept. 7, charges Hill, of the 2700 block of Krishire Dr., with embezzling approximately $150,000 from the Stadium Grill restaurant in Mattoon, Ill., when he was employed as a general manager.

According to the indictment, as general manager of the restaurant, Hill could access the restaurant’s accounting system to correct errors made by other employees in entering purchases. From 2009 to August 2013, the indictment alleges that Hill made materially false representations in the Check Adjustment Reports that represented that certain cash sales had not occurred or occurred for a lesser amount, and then took and used the cash generated for his personal use. Further, Hill allegedly falsely represented that certain sales were incorrectly entered into the accounting system as purchases made with cash and fraudulently entered them as purchases made with gift cards. Hill then allegedly took and used the cash generated by those sales for his personal use and benefit.

If convicted, each count of wire fraud (four counts) carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Hill will be issued a summons to appear in federal court in Urbana for arraignment on a date to be determined by the U.S. Clerk of the Court.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mattoon Police Department. U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller is prosecuting the case.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.